LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM
IN INDEPENDENT STUDY FORMAT
College of DuPage, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, offers independent study versions of the
courses in the Long-Term Care Administration certificate program. There are no classroom
sessions. All assignments are completed at home and submitted by U. S. mail or e-mail. The
instructors are available for consultation by phone and/or e-mail.
The six courses in this certificate program are approved by the Illinois Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation. This program includes the required courses needed by individuals
lacking a baccalaureate degree who want to sit for the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators
licensing exam. (A summary of the educational requirements from Section 1310.40 of the rules
for the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Act follows.)
Students can register for College of DuPage courses online at myaccess.cod.edu or in person at
the college. Tuition for the program can be calculated by determining your residency status
and calculating the corresponding tuition rate by 16 credit hours. If you are not an in-district
resident, see the information under residency status on how to apply at your community
college for a “chargeback” letter. You may register for Long-Term Care courses in the Fall
semester (late August to mid-December), Spring semester (mid-January to mid-May) or the
Summer semester (late-May to early August).
For more information on this certificate program, contact Dorothy O'Neil, Program Coordinator,
at oneild@cod.edu or (708) 642-1316.
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION CERTIFICATE COURSES
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION 1130
Introduction to Long-Term Care Services (3 credit hours)
Overview of the various settings for long-term care including nursing homes, senior housing
options, adult day care, home health care, assisted living, and hospice. Introduces ethical and
quality of care issues, reimbursement for services, role of technology, marketing and leadership
responsibilities.
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION 1140
Introduction to Nursing Home Administration (3 credit hours)
Introduction to the responsibilities of the nursing facility administrator, licensure procedures,
and standards. Relevant legal, funding, and program issues are addressed. Prerequisite: LongTerm Care Administration 1130 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION 1151
Nursing Home Administrative Practices I (3 credit hours)
Introduction to personnel management specific to long-term care including staffing, scheduling,
recruitment, training, performance appraisal, wage and benefit administration, job satisfaction,
and employee health and safety.
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION 1152
Nursing Home Administrative Practices II (3 credit hours)
Introduction to financial management in long-term care administration including budgeting,
accounting, internal controls, and equity and debt financing.
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATON 1161
Aging and Long-Term Care I (2 credit hours)
Survey of the physical, psychological, sociological, and financial aspects of aging. Introduces
related long-term care options, and current social policies and programs.
LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION 1162
Aging and Long-Term Care II (2 credit hours)
Continuation of Long-Term Care Administration 1161. Expands on the physical, psychological,
sociological, and financial aspects of aging as well as current policies and programs that can
benefit the older adult. Prerequisite: LTC 1161 or equivalent or concurrent enrollment.
EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS TO SIT FOR
THE NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR’S LICENSING EXAM
According to the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Act,*an individual applying to
sit for the licensing exam and receive an NHA license must satisfy one of the following three
requirements:
1. A baccalaureate degree in any area from an accredited college or university. There is
no experience requirement.
OR
2. A high school or GED diploma and satisfactory completion of four college courses
approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on the
following subjects:
- Nursing home administration
- Social gerontology or geriatrics
- Personnel management
- Accounting and financial management
OR
3. A combination of education AND two years of experience, as specified below:
The qualifying education could be any of the following:
- An associate’s degree
- Graduation from a three-year diploma Nursing program
- 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university
- 90 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or university
A person who satisfies the educational requirement for Option #3 must also have two
years of full-time employment as one of the following:
- Assistant administrator in a licensed nursing home
- Director of Nursing in a licensed nursing home
-
Management employee in a “corporation which owns and operates licensed
nursing home facilities. This experience shall include direct contact with the
nursing home administrator in the implementing, coordinating, supervising,
and evaluating the daily operations of the nursing homes under his charge…”
The application must include a “Verification of Employment/Experience” form signed by the
employer.
*The entire Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Act and rules, as well as a license
application form and candidate’s guide, can be downloaded from the web site of the Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: www.idfpr.com. At the homepage, click
on “professional regulation”. When the menu of licensed occupations appears, select “nursing
home administrator”. Paper copies can be ordered by phoning the IDFPR at (217) 782-8556.
CHARGEBACK INFORMATION
Chargebacks are partial tuition assistance given to students to attend another community
college for an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and certificate programs (such as the
Long-Term Care Administration certificate program) not offered at their own community
college. Chargebacks are granted at the discretion of your community college and are not
granted if it has a comparable program. If you are approved for a chargeback, you will pay the
in-district tuition and fees charged by the community college you attend.
The process of applying for a chargeback is not automatic. To apply for a chargeback:
1. Contact the Admissions office of your local community college to inquire about
receiving a chargeback. Approval may involve an application procedure that must
be completed 30 days before the first day of classes. Begin this process early.
2. Confirm that your local community college does not offer an Associate of Applied
Science degree or certificate in the subject area you wish to pursue.
3. Submit your completed application for a chargeback to your local community
college. You will receive a letter or authorization form, which you should copy for
your files and give the original to the Registration office on the day you register for
classes.
After registering for classes, you will receive a tuition statement indicating the in-district tuition
rate. If the statement shows the higher out-of-district rate, contact the College of DuPage
Registration office for clarification.
The chargeback program does not apply to individual courses. You must plan to enroll in a
complete A.A.S. degree or certificate program (such as the Long-Term Care Administration
certificate program) to be eligible.
For more information: call the Admissions office of your local community college and/or
Dorothy O'Neil, Coordinator of the Long-Term Care Administration program at the College of
DuPage at oneild@cod.edu or (708) 642-1316.